Poor safety standards blamed as dozens die in Philippines rubber factory fire
- 9 years ago
A fire that gutted a factory in the Philippines has killed dozens of people.
The local mayor for the area, Valenzuela City on the outskirts of the capital Manila, said on Thursday that the official figure had risen to 72.
Valenzuela Mayor Gatchalian: This is the biggest fire that ever hit the city in terms of casualties cnnphilippines pic.twitter.com/pT7gc5yrcU— Rex Remitio (Rexremitio) 13 Mai 2015
Police said the previous day’s fire started when sparks from a welding machine ignited flammable chemicals near the main entrance.
Workers became trapped on the upper floor of the two-storey factory, which made rubber flip-flops and slippers for a company named as Kentex Manufacturing Corp, reportedly for the local market.
“There was an explosion and a big fire, so we immediately rushed to the fire exit, but some of our co-workers upstairs did not know of the fire down below, so they could not get down. They were trapped. I believe there were 70 of them there,” said factory worker
The local mayor for the area, Valenzuela City on the outskirts of the capital Manila, said on Thursday that the official figure had risen to 72.
Valenzuela Mayor Gatchalian: This is the biggest fire that ever hit the city in terms of casualties cnnphilippines pic.twitter.com/pT7gc5yrcU— Rex Remitio (Rexremitio) 13 Mai 2015
Police said the previous day’s fire started when sparks from a welding machine ignited flammable chemicals near the main entrance.
Workers became trapped on the upper floor of the two-storey factory, which made rubber flip-flops and slippers for a company named as Kentex Manufacturing Corp, reportedly for the local market.
“There was an explosion and a big fire, so we immediately rushed to the fire exit, but some of our co-workers upstairs did not know of the fire down below, so they could not get down. They were trapped. I believe there were 70 of them there,” said factory worker